GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The eastern section of the Greensboro Urban Loop has opened a year ahead of schedule.
The eastern section opened on Wednesday night. More than 30,000 vehicles will travel the section of highway every day. That number is expected to jump to 58,000 vehicles by 2040.
The four-lane freeway runs from U-S 70 to U-S 29 north of Greensboro.
The eastern loop contractor hired extra crews, sub-contractors, used additional equipment to help get the section completed ahead of schedule. Crews also worked overtime and weekends.
The Western Loop is scheduled to open in February of 2018. After that, another segment will need to be constructed to fully complete the loop. That section includes the areas between Battleground Avenue and Lawndale Drive, and Lawndale Avenue and U.S. 29.
Once complete the loop will allow traffic to bypass Greensboro and improve congestion on I-40, particularly in the loop that includes I-40, I-85 Business and U.S. routes 29, 70, 220 and 421.
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